• Vince Okruch is in his third season at Akron and serves
as special teams coordinator while also coaching the defensive
tackles. In 2010, he coached the safeties and oversaw special
teams, and in 2009 worked with the linebackers.

• In 2009, he tutored Zips linebacker Brian Wagner who was
named consensus Freshman All-American, including first-team honors
by Sporting News.

• Prior to coming to Akron, Okruch served as defensive
coordinator at Illinois for one season. Under his guidance, the
2006 Illini defense made the jump to the upper half of the Big Ten.
Nationally, the unit ranked 33rd in total defense (310.17 ypg),
31st in pass defense (182.25 ypg) and 31st in pass efficiency
defense (115.20 rating).

• Okruch came to Illinois after one season as linebackers
coach at Louisiana-Monroe and one year as defensive coordinator at
Western Illinois. ULM posted a 5-2 conference record and were Sun
Belt co-champions.

• He spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator at
Colorado (1999-2003). During his time at CU, the Buffs’
defense held opponents to under 100 yards rushing 18 times and
limited their foes to below 300 yards total offense on 12
occasions.

• Before heading to Colorado, Okruch was part of Gary
Barnett’s staff at Northwestern (1992-98), which won two Big
Ten titles and made a trip to the 1996 Rose Bowl and 1997 Citrus
Bowl. At NU, he served as defensive line coach for five years
(1992-96) and two seasons as defensive coordinator (1997-98).

• From 1985-91, he was a member of the Minnesota staff,
working under Lou Holtz and John Gutekunst. The Gophers went to the
1986 Liberty Bowl in his first year as a full-time assistant.

• A 1977 graduate of Culver-Stockton College, Okruch earned
four letters as both a quarterback and tight end, while also
playing baseball. After completing his bachelor’s degree in
physical education, he went on to earn his master’s degree at
Northeast Missouri State in 1980.

• He began his coaching career upon graduation as the
defensive backs coach at his alma mater. Then, after completing his
master’s degree, returned to his alma mater to serve as the
head coach from 1980-82. The Buffalo, N.Y., native and his wife,
Janet, have two children; a daughter, Taylor, and a son,
Jordan.